Electric switch



(No Model.)

J. C. GASSIDYp.

. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 591,451. Patented Oct. 12,1891

W/T/V888:. INVENTOH Arron/v5).

UNiTED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. CASSIDY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,451, dated October 12, 1897.

I Application filed March 20, 1897. Serial No. 628,380. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern..-

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. OASSIDY, of East Orange, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches and Out-Outs, of which the following is a specification and descrip tion.

The object of this invention is to show an improvement on the switch and cut-out described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 529,363, dated November 20, 1894; No. 529,505, dated November 20, 1894, and No. 5418,7414, dated October 29, 1895. By this application I desire to show a simpler device for securing the ends attained in each of said Letters Patent and to obviate all danger of arcing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved electric switch and cut-out Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the various figures.

A represents a frame made of any material, the object of the frame being to hold together the various parts making up my improvedelectricswitchandcut-out. Saidframe A has two collars A and A which are integral parts of the said frame A. On said collar A is the screw R, by means of which the switch is attached to the chandelier or electrolier.

The rotary shaft X, to which is fastened the handle h, projects through the collar A and opening P and through a rotary wheel B, said wheel having a collar B, and through an insulating-wheel 0, having a collar D and insulated block T, said rotary shaft X being so arranged that the insulating-wheel O and rotary wheel B will revolve with said shaft X. Said block T is fastened to the arm A by means of the screw T.

The rotary wheel 13 consists of a smooth surface and corrugations M,lWI,M,M and M The insulating-wheel O has an insulatingsurface 0 and a contact-surface C.

To the insulated block T are fastened contact-springs S, S, and S, by means of screws V, W, and NV, and contact-pieces T.

To the frame A, by means of the screw L, is fastened the spring L, at one end of which is a roller M. The contact-pieces S, S, and S are so arranged that their ends N, N, and N may rest upon the contact-surface O of the insulating-Wheel O, and the revolving wheel B is so arranged that its corrugated surfaces M, M, and-M when a circuit is made will be below the contact-surface 0.

Electrical connections are made through the screw WV, contact-piece S, surface 0, contactsprings S and S, and screws WV and W. The contact-surface O is brought in position to circuit and maintained there by the joint operation of the spring L, roller M, corrugations M, M, M and M and rotary shaft X.

It will be observed that the circuit is completed when the contact-pieces S, S, and S are in engagement with the contact-surface O. The roller M by bearing upon the corrugated surfaces M, M, M and M holds the contact-surface C in its desired position with reference to the contact-springs S, S, and S.

The spring L should be made of such force.

that when the rotary shaft X is turned sufficient to release the roller, M from the corrugated surface M the said insulating-wheel C will so far revolve that arcing between the contact-surface O and the contact-spring S will be prevented.

Care should be taken to make the corrugation M of such depth that the spring L, because of the force of its release from said corrugation, will cause the block 13 to revolve quickly for some distance, thus minimizing the already-slight danger of arcing between the contact-piece O and spring S. The spring L and corrugation M of the block B not serving as electrical conductors a greater danger of arcing is thus obviated.

The operation of this improved electric switch and cut-out is as follows: The rotary shaft X, having firmly affixed at its one end the finger-piece htand bearing through the collars A and A and Wheel B and block 0, will, when it is turned, cause the said wheels B and O to revolve, while the other parts of the switch or cut-out remain rigid. If, therefore, the rotary shaft X is caused to move in either direction, it will carry with it the rotary block 13 and wheel O. The roller M will move on the smooth surface 0 of the block B. When said roller M engages the corrugation M, a complete circuit will be made hetween the screw IV, contact-spring S, surface 0, springs S and S, screws IV and IV, and thusacircuit established, and all of the lights connected with said contact-pieces S and S willbe caused to light. In order to turn out all of the lights, it will simply be necessary to turn the rotary shaft X in the opposite direction. The roller M will disengage itself, and because of the power of the sprin L and the depth of the corrugations h M", and M the circuit will be broken, and the blocks B and C will be caused to revolve a sufficient distance to prevent arcing. After the contact is made between the spring S and contact-surface O each of the lamps connected with the springs S and S can be disconnected by further rotating the blocks 15 and O in the direction first taken, when the spring S will be released from connection with the contact-piece C, while the spring S, held in position by the spring L and the roller M, will cause connection to be continued between the contactspring S, the contact-surface C, and spring S, and in this manner the lamps connected with various contact-springs can be thrown out of circuit and others remain in circuit.

I do not limit myself to the precise means herein shown, but desire to cover by my invention the mechanical equivalents of any of the parts or means herein provided.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An electric switch and cut-out, consisting of a frame A, having collars A and A and a screw R, which are integral parts of said frame A, to which said collar A of said frame A is affixed an insulated block T by means of the screw T, said block T carrying eontactpieces S, S and S, having screws IV, KY, NV, and arm T, in combination with a rotary shaft X, which said rotary shaft X has allixed at its one end, a linger-piece 7L, and bears through opening I in collar A through the rotary wheel 13 and collar B of said rotary wheel B, and through the insulating-wheel (J and collar D, into the insulating-block T; said rotary wheel 13 having a smooth surface and corrugations M, M and M and said insulating-block C having an insulated surface 0, and conducting-surface (1, all in combination with a spring L fastened to said frame A by the screw L, said spring L carrying a roller M adapted to engage with the corrugations M, M and M all so arranged with reference to each other, that the said rotary wheel B and insulating-wheel C will be caused to revolve together when said rotary shaft X is caused to revolve, and said corrugations M being so placed with reference to said conducting-surface C, that when the spring L by means of the roller M, is in engagement with the corrugations M, M and M, the said surface C will be in juxtaposition to the said corrugations M, M and M, all. in co1nbination with contact-pieces S, S and S and contact-screws \V, \V and X substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOHN C. OASSIDY.

Vituesses:

OWEN WARD, O. R. COMES. 

